Conceptualizations of Happiness and Vegetarianism: Empirical Evidence from University Students in Spain
Metadatos
Afficher la notice complèteEditorial
Springer Nature
Materia
Conceptualizations of happiness Plant-based diets Ethics Vegetarianism Veganism
Date
2023-04-03Referencia bibliográfica
Krizanova, J., Guardiola, J. Conceptualizations of Happiness and Vegetarianism: Empirical Evidence from University Students in Spain. J Happiness Stud 24, 1483–1503 (2023). [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-023-00650-6]
Patrocinador
Universidad de Granada/CBUA; Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación and the European Regional Development Fund (project ECO2017–86822-R); The Regional. Government of Andalusia; The European Regional Development Fund (project ECO2017–86822-R); the Regional. Government of Andalusia and the European Regional Development Fund (Projects P18-RT-576 and B-SEJ-018-UGR18); The University of Granada (Plan Propio. Unidad Científica de Excelencia: Desigualdad, Derechos Humanos y Sostenibilidad -DEHUSO).Résumé
Vegetarianism improves human and planetary health in addition to animal welfare.
Motivations for meat-reduced diets include health-related and ethical reasons, with
the latter being the main driver for eschewing meat. However, evidence on vegetarian
happiness is inconclusive and the results reported are mixed. This constitutes a challenge
for policy aiming to encourage people to shift toward plant-based diets. In this research,
we aim to provide some evidence on this question: to what extent is there a link between
the different moral codes related to ideas of happiness and vegetarianism? To do so,
we apply the happiness moral codes from the Conceptual Referent Theory, and assess
vegetarianism from the perspective of the psychological aspect of vegetarian identity
(flexitarian, pescatarian, lacto-ovo vegetarian, and vegan) and dietary behavior (vegetarian
self-assessment scale). Analyzing a sample of university students in Spain, we discover
that some happiness constructs (tranquility, fulfilment, and virtue) are positively related
to vegetarianism while others are inversely related (enjoyment and stoicism). In terms of
policy implications, we find that ethical grounds one holds on happiness in relation to
vegetarianism may play a role in fostering or hindering plant-based lifestyles.